Given that Singaporeans can be self-radicalised by a wider range of extremist ideologies, the country’s rehabilitation capabilities have to be more than just Islamic religious counselling, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Saturday (Sept 13).Speaking to 400 guests which included members of the Religious Rehabilitation Group, Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, mosque leaders and community volunteers, PM Wong noted that threats to Singapore’s security have evolved beyond those posed by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) network some 20 years ago.“Furthermore, the range of extremist ideologies has widened. It's no longer limited to religious extremism,” he said, adding that there are instances of Singaporeans drawn to Neo-Nazi movements or the incel subculture, known for its extreme resentment and hostility towards women.

Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,400 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes into Singapore via Tuas Checkpoint on Sept 5.In a Facebook post on Saturday (Sept 13), ICA said that it noticed anomalies in the scanned image of a Malaysia-registered lorry which had declared its consignment of goods as tomatoes and directed the vehicle for further checks.During the checks, ICA officers uncovered 2,400 cartons of duty unpaid cigarettes.From the photographs shared in ICA's post, cartons of cigarettes could be seen packed in carton boxes imprinted with tomatoes. The case has been referred to the Singapore Customs for further investigation. Vapes hidden in baby strollerOn Sept 9, ICA officers foiled an attempt to smuggle e-vaporisers hidden in a baby stroller stored in the boot of a Singaporean man's car. 

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — Singapore's four new Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft will likely be put into service in the early 2030s, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Saturday (Sept 13).He was speaking to the media at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, at the tail end of his introductory visit to the US from Sept 9 to 13.At his meeting with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sept 10, it was announced that the Fokker 50s, which have been in use since 1993, will be retired.The Ministry of Defence had said earlier this week that it will be acquiring the four Boeing P-8A aircraft to replace the ageing Fokker 50s.Chan told reporters on Saturday that the Republic has been evaluating replacement assets «for a few years» and searching for one which can «enhance our situation awareness» in today's «congested» security environment.

If your flight's air conditioning system stops working, it's not like you can just crank down the windows.Passengers on board an Air India aircraft from New Delhi to Singapore were left sweating after being stuck in that predicament for two hours.Journalist Ashish Mishra wrote in an X post on Sept 10 at 11.37pm IST (Sept 11 at 2.07am SGT): «Passengers onboard Delhi-Singapore flight AI2380 have been suffering without AC for around 1.5 hours, also the electricity in the cabin has gone. »People are forced to use papers as fans. We are getting roasted here... please help. Pathetic.«In the accompanying video, some passengers can be seen reaching up to the overhead vents, while several others fan themselves with in-flight brochures.The plane appears to be sitting on the tarmac at Delhi airport, with the cabin lights dimmed and in-flight entertainment showing a black screen with some sort of message.Mishra updated the situation half an hour later, sharing that they were »being deplaned suspecting a technical glitch".The bright cabin lights and screens are back on as passengers disembark.

A 46-year-old man will be charged on Saturday (Sept 13) after being arrested for his suspected involvement in a case of extortion.The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a press release that they had received a report from a woman on Sept 11 at around 3.55pm stating that a male friend had asked her to transfer cryptocurrency via a QR code, claiming that another friend of his required the money.Despite transferring more than $78,000 to the former, she subsequently lodged a police report suspecting that he was in trouble.Officers from the Woodlands Police Division conducted «extensive ground enquiries and follow-up investigations» to identify a 46-year-old man and arrest him within eight hours at Changi Airport Terminal 1, the release added.The SPF in their preliminary investigations discovered that the man had allegedly restrained a male victim, presumably the woman's friend, with cable ties at a hotel at Coleman Street and extorted over $200,000 from him. The extorted cryptocurrency was recovered while the male victim was conveyed conscious to the hospital after sustaining injuries.

In the wake of the killing of American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam cautioned that while Singapore has largely defied identity politics, there remain worrying trends which he hopes Singaporeans will continue to eschew. Shanmugam, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, was speaking to the media at Laguna National Golf Resort Club before a charity event on Friday (Sept 12), where he was asked about the murder of the divisive political figure.One worrying trend, said Shanmugam, is that some politicians here are «playing identity politics» based on race and religion, without identifying the politicians. He said: «In every country there is political profit in doing that. If we go down that route, well, ultimately Singapore will suffer.»He noted, however, that Singapore has largely avoided identity politics, and the Government tries to keep it that way.

A 40-year-old man — the first to be charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) for trafficking pods containing etomidate — was brought back to the crime scene in Ang Mo Kio on Friday (Sept 12).Derek Khor Boon Chun had been caught for allegedly possessing 43 vape pods laced with etomidate — also known as Kpods — at the carpark near block 631 late in the afternoon of Sept 6 after he was seen behaving suspiciously.Following a police search, checks on his mobile phone had revealed that he was allegedly involved in e-vaporiser trafficking.He was then charged on Sept 8 with etomidate possession for the purpose of trafficking under MDA — seven days after the law was enhanced.Khor revisit the crime scene on Friday along with officers from the Health Sciences Authority, where he exited a silver van along with at least three HSA officers and four security officers at 4.05pm.He hung his head low as he was escorted through a sheltered walkway at Block 631 and brought up to the sixth floor via an elevator.About 15 minutes later, AsiaOne observed that Khor was brought back down to the lobby and escorted back into the van.

A man was caught attempting to smuggle e-vaporisers hidden in a baby stroller stored in the boot of his car at Woodlands Checkpoint on Tuesday (Sept 9), said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).In a Facebook post uploaded on Sept 12, ICA said its officers had profiled the vehicle, which was driven by a Singaporean man, for enhanced checks.When questioned by officers, the man denied having anything to declare.   

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has expressed his deep gratitude to those who fought for Singapore as well as the pioneers who rebuilt the country after World War II (WWII).In a Facebook post on Friday (Sept 12), PM Wong wrote: «As we mark 60 years of independence, we remember and honour all who defended Singapore, as well as the pioneers who endured the war and rebuilt our home from its ruins.»«The peace and prosperity we enjoy today rests on their sacrifices. We can never fully repay this debt.»But we can, and must, ensure that the price of war is never forgotten. Let us uphold the values of courage, resilience and determination they showed — and continue safeguarding Singapore and our way of life, together as one people." 

The 26-year-old man who was arrested during the Central Narcotics Bureau's (CNB) anti-drug raid on Wednesday evening (Sept 10) has been charged with allegedly trafficking vape pods containing etomidate.Singaporean Tian Jiacheng was handed two charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act on Friday (Sept 12). The Wednesday evening raid was CNB's first major operation targeting an etomidate syndicate since new anti-vaping laws kicked in on Sept 1.  

The first of Singapore's 20 F-35 fighter aircraft remains on track to be delivered by the end of 2026, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Friday (Sept 12).During a visit to Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday, where Singapore's F-35s are being built, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing described the delivery not just as a milestone, but as a significant step in a long journey.«This is not just a milestone, but one step in a long journey that we will take together with Lockheed Martin, our partners in the US Government, the US Air Force, and the community in Ebbing - because every one of us needs to come together in order for this capability to be realised,» said Chan, while expressing his appreciation to all those who made this possible.

A former Malaysian minister has come out to say that Singapore should provide compensation to its neighbour when hiring medical professionals trained there.In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Sept 9) Abdul Rahman Dahlan wrote: «The exodus of Malaysian trained doctors and nurses to foreign countries especially Singapore has caused anxiety and stirred debates in Malaysia.»Rahman was a Member of Parliament from 2008 to 2018. He helmed the Economic Planning Unit as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department from 2016 to 2018.While this «brain drain» has been happening for some time, recent developments have put this issue in the forefront of public discourse and parliamentary debates, he said.«There are many reasons why Malaysia is facing acute shortage of doctors and nurses. Some are admittedly self inflicted while some are due to the aggressive 'poaching' by foreign countries.»Rahman added, however, that Malaysian medical professionals should not be barred from relocating or working in Singapore as «their right to decide their own future must be respected».

SINGAPORE - The noise made by people playing pickleball almost daily for months near a Bukit Panjang block of flats is frustrating a resident who wanted to be known only as Ms Tan, 77.«The pickleball noise is disturbing us, especially for those who have to work night shifts,» said the homemaker, who lives at Block 524 Jelapang Road.Pickleball has grown in popularity over the past year, and the games produce sharp sounds when plastic balls strike hard paddles and ricochet off the floor.But the noise has also been a source of tension among some residents, with the authorities taking measures to ensure a fair compromise.Ms Tan said she has heard other frustrated residents yelling at pickleball players to stop playing. She keeps her main door shut to block out the noise, but has to put up with a stuffy flat as a result.But some of her neighbours, like Ms Pauline Tan, 28, are less bothered.«Actually, I kind of enjoy watching them play. I even bring my baby down sometimes to see,» she said. «I think that it adds to the neighbourhood spirit.»